Republika ng Pilipinas
Kagawaran ng Edukasyon
Rehiyon XI
SANGAY NG LUNGSOD NG DABAW
LUNGSOD NG DABAW
MAPULA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Brgy. Mapula, Paquibato Dist., Davao City
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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
QUARTER 1
Name of Student: ________________________________ Grade:_____Section: ____________ Date: _________________
Subject Teacher: JAMES PHILIP L. SANCHEZ Activity Sheet No.: ___1___
Subject: Philippine Politics and Governance
Politics, Governance, and other Key Concepts
Politics is as old as ancient Greek civilization. Thus, it can be traced in the philosophical ideas of Plato’s
Republic and Aristotle’s Politics. Yet, it is Aristotle who clearly defines the term Politics as “the best method of
investigation is to study things in the process of development from the beginning” (Klosko, 2012, p. 8).
Aristotle also called “man (woman) as a political being” (Levin, 1979, p.529). If and only if, he/she
prioritizes the divine order (divine perfection) as the model of the polis or the city-state. However, it is not
always be the case that political players would like to consider the divine perfection as the best example of a
perfect society.
Politics is everywhere and everybody’s concern. It “happens in the workplace, in families, and even in
the classroom. It is the ongoing competition between people, usually in groups, to shape policy in their favor.
To do so, he/she may seek to guide policy indirectly by shaping the beliefs and values of members of their
society” (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p. 3).
Definition of Key Concepts
A. Politics
As the definition of the term ‘politics’ encompasses the politics of government, it can also encompass the
political dynamics in other contexts. While this text will largely focus on politics of governments, it is
important to understand that politics is more fundamental than governments but occurs wherever
human competitions play out (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p. 3).
B. Political Power
Politics is about power, specifically the power to shape others’ behavior. Power in politics is getting
people to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do—and sometimes having them think it was their idea.
Aristotle called politics “the master science.” He meant that almost everything happens in a political
context, that the decisions of the polis (the Greek city- state and root of our words polite, police, and
politics) governed most other things. (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p.9)
Power in politics is getting people to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do—and sometimes having
them think it was their idea. Some people dislike the concept of political power. It smacks of coercion,
inequality, and occasionally brutality. Some speakers denounce “power politics,” suggesting governance
without power, a happy band of brothers and sisters regulating themselves through love and sharing.
Communities formed on such a basis do not last; or, if they do last, it is only by transforming themselves
into conventional structures of leaders and followers, buttressed by obedience patterns that look
suspiciously like power. Political power seems to be built into the human condition.
C. Government
The term ‘government’ came from classical Greek thought. Generally, it is used to “describe both the
body that has authority in a given unit— whether national, regional or local—and the whole
constitutional system. There are many different forms of government, such as democracy, autocracy and
dictatorship. The first systematic study and classification of the methods of government was probably
that undertaken by Aristotle, and since that time political scientists have been involved in distinguishing
the different features of government and politics.
D. Political Science
As an academic discipline, Political science is a very old endeavor. Aristotle “considers it as the ‘queen of
sciences.’ It is one of a number of titles for the academic study of politics and political behaviour.
Generally, it is the study of the nature, distribution, and dynamics of power, usually at the national or
international level, but sometimes at a very ‘micro’ level. The techniques of the discipline range from
highly mathematical and statistical analyses of objective data (most commonly found in political
sociology), via rather journalistic descriptive accounts of political institutions, or almost ethnographical
accounts of foreign political cultures, to logical and conceptual analysis of political morality” (Robertson,
2002, p. 388- 389).
Relevance and Relationship or Comparison of Politics and Political Science
A. Relevance of Politics and Political Science
Roskin, et.al (2017) identifies some importance of political science. First, it is a method of how
to study Politics. Though, it is not similar to politics. Second, it is not necessarily training to become a
practicing politician. Yet, it is to educate the learner in a calm and objective analysis ofpolitics, which
may or may not aid working politicians (p.8). Third, as Aristotle defines political science as ‘the master
science,’ it means almost everything happens in a political context, that the decisions of the polis (the
Greek city-state and root of our words polite, police, and politics) governed most other things. Fourth,
political scientists may opt to become like natural scientists; they quantify data and manipulate them
statistically to validate hypotheses. Their works have to be scholarly, which should be reasoned,
balanced, supported with evidence, and a bit theoretical. Fifth, Political science can contribute to good
government, often by warning those in office that all is not well (pp. 9-13).
Some people may consider politics as dirty and distasteful. Either it is the cause of corruption
and immorality or development and morality, political scientists have to endure the political scenario
and like the subject matter that being studied. According to Harold D. Lasswell in his book entitled:
Politics: Who Gets What, When, How, ‘the study of politics is the study of influence and the influential.
The science of politics states conditions; the philosophy of politics justifies preference” (Merelman,
1981, p. 471).
Activity: Agree or Disagree:
Instructions: On the statements below, draw thumbs up 👍 if you agree and thumbs down 👎 if you disagree.
